Pasadena Woman Faked Kidnapping To Extort Her Parents, Police Say

PASADENA, CA — A 20-year-old Pasadena woman is facing possible extortion charges Thursday for allegedly pretending she had been kidnapped and conning her father in China out of $85,000 in purported ransom.

Yimei Wang, a student at ArtCenter College of Design in Pasadena, was arrested early Wednesday and booked on suspicion of extortion. She was released later the same day after posting $30,000 bail, according to sheriff's inmate records and a report in the Pasadena Star-News.

Wang allegedly sent her parents a photo of her bound and gagged, prompting her father to send the money, Pasadena police Lt. Jason Clawson said.

When police investigated, officers found Wang alone at a motel on Colorado Boulevard on Wednesday morning, the Star-News reported.

Pasadena police Lt. Pete Hettema told the Star-News Wang's mother had called them to say her daughter had been kidnapped.

Hettema said that after Wang was found safe, she admitted to scamming her own parents.

The case remains under investigation, Clawson said.

City News Service; Photo: Shutterstock